Health care personnel, 2012, 4th quarter

A total of 30 700 persons with a health care education working within the health care industry were immigrants or foreign citizens on short-term stays in 2012. A total of 9 600 of these immigrants were nurses and 4 800 were physicians. About 38 per cent of 30 700 persons with a foreign background were of African, Asian and South American origin.

Biggest increase in health worker educated persons

Employees with a health care education or a licence to work in health care increased by 2 700. The new health worker education replaces auxiliary nurse and care worker qualifications. Employed auxiliary nurses and care workers decreased by 3 500 persons. All three groups combined had a net decrease of almost 800 employed persons.

Women make up 84 per cent of health and care personnel

Only six health care educations in these statistics consist of more men than women. This applies to specialists in dentistry, specialised physicians, ambulance workers, chiropractors, perfusionists and orthopaedic engineers. Among medical secretary, dental secretary, dental nurse, health visitor and midwife educations, women totalled over 99 per cent.

Health care workers work primarily in the public sector

Fifty-one per cent of all persons with a health care education work within the municipal sector. Thirty-one per cent of all persons with such an education work in the governmental sector, primarily in health enterprises. Eighty-two per cent of all employees between 15-74 years with a health care education work in the public sector.

Working hours and number of jobs

Average work hours per employed person with a health care education who work in the health care industry are 31.4 in the 4th quarter of 2012; approximately unchanged in the last three years. Many people have more than one employment relationship. Nearly 22 per cent of specialised physicians have multiple jobs, compared to 9.6 per cent of all health care educated persons who work in health care.